The report has been highly critical of the LTTE

Although there have been violations of the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) since it was signed in 2002, the violence escalated since February last year, according to Amnesty International (AI).

“While all communities are affected, the majority of the violence has been against Tamils,” a statement issued on Friday said.

Tamils affected

The human rights organisation accused both the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and Tamil Tigers for gross violation of human rights.

In Batticaloa district, parents told AI that child recruitment is widespread in government controlled areas and that it is mostly children over 14 who are being taken

Majority of political killings are reportedly committed by the LTTE, the AI said, adding that the Karuna faction is also accused of many killings.

The LTTE accuses the GoSL of supporting the breakaway group led by Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna, but the government denies any involvement.

Political killings

Violence that has been confined to Batticaloa district since Karuna defected in 2004, has gradually been spread to Ampara and Trincomalee districts, according to the Amnesty international.

While all communities are affected, the majority of the violence has been against Tamils

“As the killings escalate, civilians are increasingly trapped between the two sides. They are often forced to cooperate with one group and then seen as complicit with them and targeted by the other.”

The AI said the split between the LTTE and Karuna faction is being used by some to “settle personal grudges”.

The Presidential Commission appointed in March 2005 to probe the killings in the east “missed the opportunity” to comprehensively investigate the situation, according to the statement.

Child recruitment

The AI accused the LTTE of recruiting minors after December 26 Asian tsunami.

As the killings escalate, civilians are increasingly trapped between the two sides

“In Batticaloa district, parents told AI that child recruitment is widespread in government controlled areas and that it is mostly children over 14 who are being taken,” the statement said.

The organisation accused the LTTE of allowing some abducted children to run away, leaving the option to re-recruit them.

But the LTTE, AI said, has denied knowingly recruiting children for combat.